Hi all
I've just bought an 11 plate 1.2 dynamic a.c.
I've had it a week and have had to top up the coolant 4 times !!. I took it to a friend who mechanics at a fiat dealership and he pressure tested it and poked around everywhere with his torch and couldn't find any sign of water .
Has anyone else had a similar problem ? It's got to be going somewhere ..

I'm guessing it's the start of head gasket failure.

Have you checked the oil for signs of contamination?

Any excess steam from the exhaust?

He checked the oil and it was clean and I've got no steam .

Check the metal cooling pipe below the exhaust manifold. They have been known to only leak when hot. Same goes for the O Ring seal where it joins the water pump.
Otherwise, probably head gasket, as above.

Thanks ,will do .

Also check for damp carpets..

All the above are good suggestions.
Also check water pump. They will often only leak while running, so a pressure test does not highlight it.

Coolant going down the exhaust will trash the O2 sensor so if head gasket turns out to be your problem don't forget to fit a new sensor.

This is the coolant pipe. It sits under the exhaust manifold.
https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=18786&sku=266381

Also check the radiator for stone or corrosion damage.

I've ordered a uv dye kit which apparently shows up even if the water has dried .worth a go for £12 i think .

If the pipe is rough rusty it's about to fail if its not gone already. The rad should be obvious with engine running. If the head gasket has blown a coolant hydrocarbon test kit will tell you. A cylinder compression test also makes sense.

I suspect its a gradual loss.. as you have not found anything wet.

How many miles : hours running?

Radiator.. has to be significant leak..as it evaporates freely.

Maybe.. its been apart.. and you are self.bleeding the system..

Keep an eye on volume you are replacing.

Idea: if it persists.. try a new pressure cap

Charlie

It's going half way to mum over a couple of days which is about 20 miles !
I still having got the uv kit , it should arrive tomorrow so I'll what it shows up . If I can't see anything I'll try and sent the car back , I've only had it a week and shouldn't have to be pi**ing about with it .

Min

I never fill more than MIN when cold. Otherwise it'll go out of the overflowpipe when hot.

gr J

Vancam said:

It's going half way to mum over a couple of days which is about 20 miles !
I still having got the uv kit , it should arrive tomorrow so I'll what it shows up . If I can't see anything I'll try and sent the car back , I've only had it a week and shouldn't have to be pi**ing about with it .

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If you have just bought the car then take it back.

Like NOW!

The issue could be anything from overfilled radiator to a blown head gasket. The garage selling the car needs to get it sorted.

Vancam said:

It's going half way to mum over a couple of days which is about 20 miles !
I still having got the uv kit , it should arrive tomorrow so I'll what it shows up . If I can't see anything I'll try and sent the car back , I've only had it a week and shouldn't have to be pi**ing about with it .

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I guessed it was a cheap purchase with no comeback..


If its a garage just take it back.

That is why you pay the extra money..!!

The dealer is over 100 miles away and asked me to get it looked at by a mechanic as I have a 30day warranty .he couldn't find anything wrong with it so I want to know if there's anything else I should be looking for before I speak to the dealer and tell him the mechanic can't find anything wrong with it as he can't fix what he can't find .

Where are you based?

Swapping caps is telatively painless.

I'm in Carlisle ,car came from York ?
The uh stuff arrived so I'll put it in and have a look in a couple of days .then I'll speak to the dealer and see what to do next .

Vancam said:

The dealer is over 100 miles away and asked me to get it looked at by a mechanic as I have a 30day warranty .he couldn't find anything wrong with it so I want to know if there's anything else I should be looking for before I speak to the dealer and tell him the mechanic can't find anything wrong with it as he can't fix what he can't find .

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If it is losing that amount of water, you need a better mechanic to look at it. One who cannot find anything wrong is best avoided, now and in the future.